Television New Zealand will not appeal against a decision by the Broadcasting Standards Authority that a news item about Samoa breached broadcasting laws.
In the item broadcast on 6 April last year, reporter Barbara Dreaver suggested that Samoa was awash with guns and drugs, prompting the Samoan government to lodge a complaint with the BSA.
The BSA report says the Attorney-General of Samoa on behalf of its government lodged a formal complaint with Television New Zealand Ltd, alleging that the programmes breached broadcasting standards because viewers had been left with a false impression of Samoan culture and Samoa today.
The authority found that the report presented only one view and ordered TVNZ to publish a summary of its findings, as well as pay costs of $NZ5,000 to claimant and $NZ2,000 to the Crown.
TVNZ considered appealing against the decision. However, spokesperson Megan Richards now says the broadcaster decided against it, as it does not have the resources to pursue the matter.
Ms Richards says TVNZ will offer an apology as ordered, but it is unclear when that will be.
